226 GONDOKORO TO AGARU. 



This numerical disproportion, which also prevails in other parts 

 of the country, may explain why the women here, who are 

 both ponderous and ugly, are not renowned for their chastity, 

 and why the men, on the other hand, are considered very 

 lenient to their robust helpmates. 



I have already said that the interior of the village was 

 dreadfully dirty, in contrast to the Bari villages, which are 

 always kept scrupulously clean within, although their environ- 

 ments are very dirty. Hundreds of rats and mice infest the 

 huts. The latter are built upon round substructures, about 

 four and a half feet high, which are usually calked and overlaid 

 with mud. The huts are surmounted by bell-shaped roofs 

 (sometimes peaked), which project considerably over the sub- 

 structures. A small doorway is left open, about two and a 

 half feet high, which must, of course, be entered on all fours. 

 The interior is kept fairly clean, but is quite dark. The thatch 

 is generally made of grass ; many huts are covered with split 

 leaves of the doleb palm, which are more durable and com- 

 pact — a very desirable quality for withstanding tropical rain. 

 Sheep and goats are the only domestic animals kept here ; 

 the former are long-legged and of a superior breed. Curiously 

 enough, I saw no dogs. Agriculture, as is usual among hunt- 

 ing tribes, is rather neglected, although the soil is excellent, 

 and the soldiers grow durrah, maize, ground-nuts, and splendid 

 water-melons. 



I saw six little ostriches the size of turkeys running about 

 loose. They were hatched by the sun at our station from eggs 

 buried in the sand. I was told that these birds are very 

 numerous. Snakes appear to enjoy the sandy soil at Okkela, 

 for a considerable number of different species are found there, 

 chiefly adders, among which are several new kinds. Poisonous 

 snakes sometimes make their way into the huts. One of them, 

 a kind of Echis, is very common, and much dreaded. 



Okkela is a paradise for the collector. The belt of wood 

 round the Negro village is full of treasures. I shall never 

 forget the pleasure of half an hour which I spent there. The 

 white dorsal mane and tail-tuft of Colobus guereza, gleamed 

 through the dark foliage, small families of them being led 

 by white-bearded old males, which gazed fearlessly at the 



